The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-01-05
THE AWFUL HOLOCAUST.
FURTHER DETAILS OF THE
FRIGHTFUL AFFAIR.
The Heartrending Scenes and the
SufreriDgs Of the Victims
Searching for the Slain.

most horrible and neartrending acct |
dents ever chronicled occurred near |
Republic, about eight miles east OF |
here, at 9 o'clock this morning. At
l o'clock an east bound freight train |
in charge OF Conductor Fletcher |
pulled out OF this city, having re-
ceiyed orders to side track at the
Scipio siding to allow the east bound
express to pass. After the passenger
train had gone the conductor, peing
without special orders, exercised his
own judgment, and determined that
inasmuch as be had half an hour TO
make the switch at Republic, little
a little lees than five miles distant, be-
fore the arrival Of the fast express
from the East, due at that point at 2
o'clock, be pulled out. The night was
bitter cold and much difficulty
was experienced in keeping mp
steam in the engine. Finally
at a point a mile west, OF Re-
public the train came to standstlll,
heing unable to move further. Just
here was made the horrible mistake
which resulted 10 the loss OF many lives
and the destruction OF many thou
sands of dollars worth Of property.
Although the conductor must have
known that he was encroachiDg dan
; perously near the time Of the express,
he did not eend out the signal until
his train had come to a stsndstili and
he found IL impossible TO move iur-
ther. He then started forward with
the lantern himself. At This point
there ia a sharp curve, and Conductor
Fletcher had not proceeded more than
the length of twenty cars when he saw
the headlight Of the approaching ex-
: press rounding the curve not more
q than forty rods distant and run
= ming at the lightning speed OF
8 sixty-three miles per hour. Horror
stricken with the knowledge that a
|. that the frightful accident could not
II be averted, he flashed his light in the
: face OF the engineer, Lem Eastman.
u The latter at the same moment saw
,. the light Of the freight engine, and
" giving a wild shrek OF the whistle for
o brakes, he reversed his engine and
g jumped for his life, crashing through
q the window Of the car carrying glass
10 and sash with him and alignied in a
3 heavy snow drift. He escaped serious
n injuries, his hurts being confined to
. sliekt wound upon the knee. AS he
% realized the danger he called to hta
v fireman, William Fredericks, to save
himself, The latter was engaged In
RS stocking the FIRE, and raised mp and
a. besitated a moment to glance forward
D. as II to estimate the danger.
B. This was fatal, as at that instant
the crash came, and poor Fredevicks
was pinned and crushed by the mas
OF the wreck. The ELECTS OF the col
II. lision can be better imagined that
ve described. The engines OF the two
al trains reared into the air like pair o
or enraged living monsters, and ther
| settled down upon the track, driver
/ into each other until the cylinder
of touched. The force OF the lmpac
h. damned the baggage car into the ten
it der OF the fast train, the express ca
ng into the baggage, and the smoker into
| the express In lees than tiv
or minutes frou the moment OF tn
a collision, and before any organize,
or aid could be rendered, the flame
from the burning cars lelpe
high in the air, their roar min
X cling with the cries Of anguish G
p the imprisoned victims, 10 whom
al death in its NEST terrible form was
ls, horrjd presence. The train men an
ty uniniured passengers were powerles'
g and could DO nothing to rescue tn
le- sufferers The express train was /
rs charge of Conductor Tom Haskell, Ell
ok gineer Lem Eastman and Frema
VIM. FfederiCks, and contested OF on
oil
u" express, smoker, coach, and wv
ace seepers. The freight train VIZ
the in charge of Conductor Fletcl
will err, Engineer Nuter and Fir
slf' man W. J. Cullison, and consiste
to of engine No 926 and sixteen loade
on and few empty gondo'as. IN
err smoker contained from twelve to II
u s 81 teen passengers, some of whom wei
Oh immigrants. Three men escape
the alive, but their names were NJ
,nd learned. Baggage Master W. F. Gate
rho of Newark, was the only man in b
no car. and he was hurt in beth legs, Il
Xxx TX left leg being cut in several places, an
lily a splin.er or rod had run into his rigl
"a foot.
uia C.P. Bradley, OF Washington, d. {
was found hanging from the windo
ria OF the smoker, but bis legs were ia
Ally and he could not be removed. The
oca he remained until he was burned
ons death, and his Charred remains Tell
de- tho ground black and shspele
M. mass. He was conscious and gave !
in address to the bystanders, and al
etc. said he was an officer of the Knigt
tss, of Labor organization. He gave
watch and other valuables he cou
get from his pockets to Conduct
+ etcher Of the freight train.
lus- Joseph Postelwaite, aged 81 yea
ooK' aud bis son Shenier, 0ged Is yea
mp. and Henry, aged IL years, were sitti
lule in the same seat in the smoker, a
y their charred remains we're found
the ruins OF tho cars. Mr.. Post
waite, his wife, two boys, a 7 year
nall, girl by former wifs, little boy o
sted years, and baby girl OF 2 years, !
lpli- sold their farm OF $50 acres in Wet
man county, W. Va, and were moving
SO OF Ohilicothe, Mo-, near where Po3t
ated waite had brother living, aud VIII
full he would make his future home.
hem had about $500 in cash, check
5000, and several notes in his poci
. ana tntBb Wefe DuIneu WIN LIS w
. leaving the poor widow with tn
ran children with no clothing except W
the she wore and 30 cents in money.
izth husband and the two boys had
,heiT her but a few moments before,
iotel gone from the coach to the smol
hese Postelwaite, as a halt melted me
lesa- fund in the wreck indicated, ws
atter soldier in the Union ranks during
date late war, being member OF Comp
al A, Seventeenth regiment, West
niger GINA volunteer infantry
gent VIM. FIedericks, fireman Of the
press, was caught between the ter
aud engine, aud lived for two no
but it was found impossible to 81
7 re- bis release. His mother is a wild
dopt al d lives in Washington, d. O.
lam was member of the Brotht rhoo(
VIDE Firemen, which organization
MOTH charge Of his remains, which wert
ar moved to Chsmberlain's undertal
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